Photographic camera system

ABSTRACT

A photographic camera system includes a photographic camera that can successively expose a photographic film in different frame sizes and an automatic printer for automatically printing the processed photographic film exposed with those different frame sizes. The camera varies the width of an exposure opening in the camera body in the film-feed direction and the film is fed a length corresponding to the width of the exposure opening. The photographic camera records an exposure opening position signal indicative of the size of the exposure opening on the photographic film, and the automatic printer automatically prints the photographic film using the exposure opening position signal detected from the photographic film.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/958,839 filed Oct. 28, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,067, which is a division of application Ser. No. 08/645,030 filed May 15, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,991, which is a division of application Ser. No. 08/426,113 filed Apr. 20, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,147, which is a division of application Ser. No. 08/333,593 filed Nov. 2, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,430, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/026,415 filed Mar. 4, 1993, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a photographic camera system for producing pictures having various frame sizes, and more particularly to a photographic camera using a specialized photographic film and a film printing device for printing the processed photographic film having a succession of frames of different sizes that have been photographed by the camera.

2. Description of the Background

The photographic film that is in the most widespread use today is 35-mm film (system 135) as provided for by Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and International Organization of Standardization (IOS).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908 describes a photographic camera and a film therefor, with the film being of a 35-mm size devoid of sprocket holes of the size used in present 35-mm films and having an effective image area of about 30 mm across the film, thereby providing an increased effective usable film area.

More specifically, ignoring dimensional tolerances, present 35-mm films for use in general photography have a width of 35 mm between opposite longitudinal edges and include a series of film-transport perforations or sprocket holes defined along the opposite longitudinal edges of the film. The film-transport perforations are spaced 25 mm across the film and have a pitch of 4.75 mm. Frames on such a present 35-mm film are of a rectangular shape having a width of 25 mm across the film and a length of 36 mm along the film. The frames have a pitch of 38 mm, which is eight times larger than the pitch of the film-transport perforations.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908, some modern photographic film cameras are electronically controlled to provide motor-driven operation with high accuracy, and it has been experimentally confirmed that the film can be transported quite accurately without requiring the large sprocket wheels and film perforations that are found in most present cameras and films. In the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908, the film-transport perforations are not present in the 35-mm photographic film, thereby increasing the available frame width across the film up to the regions where such film-transport perforations were located. The proposed film thus has an increased effective image area for improved image quality. This patent describes four sizes that are available for frames that can be exposed on a 35-mm film free of film-transport perforations.

According to one size, a frame that can be exposed in an effective image area of the 35-mm film has a width of 30 mm across the film and a length of 40 mm along the film. The frames of such a size have a pitch of 42.0 mm, for example. The frame size and pitch are selected to match specifications of the present television broadcasting system, for example, the NTSC system. Therefore, the frames have an aspect ratio of 3:4.

Another frame size described in that patent is based on High-Definition Television (HDTV) specifications, in which frames have a width of 30 mm and a length of 53.3 mm and a pitch of 57.75 mm, for example. The aspect ratio of the frames having that size is 9:16.

The above-mentioned frame sizes are full-frame sizes, and the other two frame sizes are half-frame sizes. According to one of the half-frame sizes, frames have a width of 30 mm and a length of 22.5 mm and a pitch of 26.2 mm, for example, to match present television broadcasting system specifications. According to the other half-frame size, frames have a width of 30 mm and a length of 16.9 mm and a pitch of 21.0 mm, for example, to match HDTV specifications.

Film with the above four frame formats is stored in the same film cartridge as presently available 35-mm film.

Because the frames in either of the above frame formats have a width of 30 mm, there are unexposed areas of about 2.5 mm between the frames and along the opposite longitudinal edges of the film. These unexposed areas may be used to keep the film flat, control the film, and write and read data when taking pictures.

The proposed camera may be relatively small and lightweight, because it does not require film-transport sprocket wheels.

Films that are actually collected in processing laboratories are processed either simultaneously in a batch or individually. In a simultaneous batch process, several thousand films are processed per hour at a high rate to realize economics of scale for reducing the printing cost. Specifically, a plurality of exposed films are collected in the processing laboratory and are spliced end to end to form a long, continuous film strip, which is then stored in a film magazine and subsequently processed.

If the films that are spliced into the continuous strip contain frames exposed in different frame formats, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,908, then the long single film stored in the film magazine contains different frame sizes, thereby making printing a problem.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,384,774 and 5,066,971 propose cameras capable of switching between half and full frame sizes at the time the film is exposed. When film exposed using these proposed cameras is spliced into a long, single, film strip for simultaneous batch processing, the continuous film strip also contains different frame sizes.

The processing laboratories are therefore required to form notches indicative of frame centers for automatically printing spliced films with different frame sizes after they are developed. For example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,591, a human operator manually notches a side edge of a spliced film and, hence, the notches are required to control the feed of the film. With the disclosed process, it is impossible to process several thousand films per hour, however, the cost of processing exposed film is relatively high. As a consequence, films with different frame sizes may not be accepted by processing laboratories in Japan.

Many processing laboratories all over the world also do not accept films with frames exposed in half size because they do not want different frame sizes to be contained in a single spliced film that is stored in a single film magazine for subsequent processing and printing. This problem arises because the different frame sizes can be recognized only after the film has been developed. One solution would be to apply marking seals to exposed films so that the films of different frame sizes thereof can be distinguished and sorted out for individual processing and printing. Nevertheless, use of marking seals would not essentially solve the problem, because it would be difficult to supply such marking seals consistently over a number of years.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a variable frame size photographic system that can eliminate the above-noted drawbacks inherent in prior proposed systems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a photographic camera that can expose a photographic film in different frame sizes as desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photographic film printer for automatically printing successive photographic films, even if they contain different frame sizes.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographic camera system including a photographic camera having a camera body, a first housing disposed in the camera body for housing a photographic film cartridge, a second housing disposed in the camera body for housing a photographic film drawn from the photographic film cartridge, a film feed device disposed in the camera body for feeding the photographic film between the first and second housings, an exposure device disposed in the camera body for exposing an exposure area of the photographic film fed by the film feed device to an image of a subject between the first and second housings, and a recording device disposed in the camera body for recording an exposure position control signal indicative of a position where the photographic film is to be exposed by the exposure device on the photographic film. The photographic camera system also includes a photographic film printer having a printer body, a detecting device disposed on the printer body for detecting the exposure position control signal recorded on the photographic film, a film feed control device disposed on the printer body for controlling feeding of the photographic film based on the exposure position control signal detected by the detecting device, and a printing device disposed on the printer body for varying an opening width of a mask that is used to print the image of the subject in the exposure area of the photographic film on a print paper, depending on the exposure position control signal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a photographic camera including a first housing for housing a photographic film cartridge, a second housing for housing a photographic film drawn from the photographic film cartridge, a film feed device for feeding the photographic film between the first and second housings, an exposure device for exposing an exposure area of the photographic film fed by the film feed device to an image of a subject, and a recording device for recording an exposure position control signal indicative of a position where the photographic film is to be exposed by the exposure device on the photographic film.

In another aspect the present invention provides a photographic camera including a camera body, a first housing disposed in the camera body for housing a photographic film cartridge, a second housing disposed in the camera body for housing a photographic film drawn from the photographic film cartridge, a film feed device disposed in the camera body for feeding the photographic film between the first and second housings, an exposure device disposed in the camera body for varying a width in which the photographic film is exposed to an image of a subject in a direction in which the photographic film is fed by the film feed device, between the first and second housings, and a control unit disposed in the camera body for controlling the film feed device to feed the photographic film for a length corresponding to an increase in the width, at least when the width of the frame is increased.

The present invention in another aspect also provides a photographic film printer including a printer body, a detecting device disposed on the printer body for detecting an exposure position control signal recorded on a photographic film, a film feed control unit disposed on the printer body for controlling feeding of the photographic film based on the exposure position control signal detected by the detecting device, and a printing device disposed on the printer body for varying an opening width of the mask that is used to print an image of a subject in an exposure area of the photographic film on a print paper, depending on the exposure position control signal.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent the same or similar objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a 35-mm film that has been exposed using a 35-mm photographic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of another 35-mm film that has been exposed using an embodiment of the 35-mm photographic camera of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are elevational views of 35-mm film cartridges that can be used in the 35-mm photographic camera embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the 35-mm photographic camera of the embodiment of the present invention with a rear lid removed;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an inner surface of a rear lid of the 35-mm photographic camera of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI—VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system used in the embodiment of the 35-mm photographic camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the camera shown in FIG. 6;

FIGS. 9A through 9E are fragmentary front elevational views showing the positional relationships of frames exposed on a 35-mm film using the embodiment of the 35-mm photographic camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of an automatic printer for printing on photosensitive paper a 35-mm film exposed using the embodiment of the 35-mm photographic camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control system used in the embodiment of the automatic printer shown in FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are fragmentary front elevational views showing the relationship between a 35-mm film and sensors in the automatic printer shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an operating method that is performed by a microprocessor of the control system shown in FIG. 11;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are representative of the relative sizes of negative-carrier variable slits in the automatic printer;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are representation showing the relative sizes of variable paper masks in the automatic printer;

FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view of a 35-mm photographic camera with a rear lid removed, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a rear elevational view of a 35-mm photographic camera with a rear lid removed, according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A 35-mm photographic film 1 that can be used in a 35-mm photographic camera according to the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B, in which FIGS. 1 and 2 show 35-mm photographic film 1 after it has been exposed, and FIGS. 3A and 3B show 35-mm photographic film 1 before it is exposed.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the 35-mm photographic film 1 is stored in a film cartridge 16 and has an end extending out of the film cartridge 16. Images that are photographed on the 35-mm photographic film 1 are turned upside down by the lenses, so that the upper end of an image is positioned on a lower portion of the photographic film 1. FIG. 3B shows by way of example a photographed image of a subject in broken lines, which appears to be turned upside down on the photographic film 1.

Each of the photographic films 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B has a series of film position detecting holes 19 defined along an unexposed marginal edge area thereof, which has a width of about 2.5 mm. The film position detecting holes 19 have a diameter of about 1 mm and are spaced at a constant, predetermined pitch. The pitch of the film position detecting holes 19 in the photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 1 is 5.25 mm, for example, and the pitch of the film position detecting holes 19 in the photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 2 is 6.28 mm.

Distances by which the different photographic films 1 with the film position detecting holes 19 spaced at the pitches of 5.25 mm and 6.28 mm are advanced to feed frames of different frame sizes are given in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Frame sizes (Width × length) Pitch − 6.28 mm Pitch = 5.25 mm NTSC-matched frame 43.96 = 6.28 × 7 42.0 = 5.25 × 8 size (30 mm × 40 pitches pitches mm), full size HDTV-matched frame 56.52 = 6.28 × 9 57.75 = 5.25 × 11 size (30 mm × 53.3 pitches pitches mm), full size HDTV-matched frame 18.84 = 6.28 × 3 21.0 = 5.25 × 4 size (30 mm × 16.9 pitches pitches mm), half size NTSC-matched frame 25.12 = 6.28 × 4 26.25 = 5.25 × 5 size (30 mm × 22.5 pitches pitches mm), half size

The photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 3A has film position detecting holes 19 that will be positioned along an upper marginal edge area after the photographic film is exposed, however, no tongue is provided at the leading end, so that no tongue-removing process will subsequently be required. Because no tongue-removing process will be required, the subsequent processing of the photographic film 1 is less costly.

The photographic film 1 shown in FIG. 3B also has film position detecting holes 19 that will be positioned in an upper marginal edge area thereof after the photographic film is exposed, and has a tongue at its leading end on its lower portion. The tongue at the leading end of the photographic film 1 is vertically opposite in position to the tongue of an ordinary 35-mm photographic film that is now generally commercially available. If a photocoupler is used in a photographic camera for detecting the film position detecting holes 19, then when the photographic film 1 is loaded into the photographic camera, the marginal edge with the film position detecting holes 19 is not required to be manually inserted into the photocoupler, but is automatically inserted into the photocoupler when the photographic film 1 is wound by a film transport mechanism in the photographic camera.

An embodiment of a photographic camera that can use the photographic films 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B is shown and described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 8. FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the photographic camera with the rear lid or removed. The lid is shown in FIG. 5. The photographic camera has a dark box 4 including a cartridge housing 17 for housing the film cartridge 16, which is of a known structure, an exposure opening 7 near the cartridge housing 17 and through which the photographic film 1 can be exposed to light passing through a camera lens, aperture, and shutter not shown in FIG. 4, and a film housing 18 for housing the photographic film 1 after it has been exposed.

The photographic film 1 that is unwound from the film cartridge 16 housed in the cartridge housing 17 is fed over the exposure opening 7 while being transversely limited in motion by upper and lower respective pairs of film guides 30, 31, and is then moved into the film housing 18 after being exposed.

The film housing 18 has a guide roller 32 for automatically setting or loading the photographic film 1, and a film takeup spool 9 rotatable by a motor, shown at 10 in FIG. 7, for winding the exposed photographic film 1 thereon.

The photographic camera has a light-emitting diode (LED) 5 a positioned between the lower film guides 30, 31 for detecting the film position detecting holes 19, and a photodetector, shown in FIG. 5 at 5 b, disposed on a pressure plate of the rear lid and positioned in registry with the LED 5 a across the photographic film 1. The photodetector 5 b has a diameter of 1.5 mm, for example.

The LED 5 a emits infrared radiation having a wavelength of 940 nm, which is different from those radiation wavelengths to which the photographic film 1 is sensitive. Referring to FIG. 7, the LED 5 a and the photodetector 5 b jointly make up a hole sensor 5 that applies an output signal to a counter in a system controller 8 that comprises a microcomputer. In this way, the system controller 8 can recognize the position of the photographic film 1 over the exposure opening 7. The LED 5 a and the photodetector 5 b may be alternatively replaced with a photocoupler that also comprises an LED and a photodetector but which are positioned in confronting relationship, as described hereinbelow.

In FIG. 4, the exposure area opening 7 has its size defined by left and right movable masks 15 that are laterally movable over the width of the exposure opening 7 from opposite sides thereof. The size of the exposure opening 7 in the longitudinal direction of the photographic film 1 can selectively be changed to four different dimensions of 53.33 mm, 40.00 mm, 22.5 mm, and 16.90 mm as indicated by the four pairs of broken lines in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the left and right movable masks 15 are retractable into left and right side walls, respectively, that are positioned on opposite sides of the exposure opening 7 and extend substantially perpendicularly to the photographic film 1 as it extends over the exposure opening 7. As shown in FIG. 7, two linear toothed bars 33 are attached to the respective lower edges of the movable masks 15 and held in mesh with respective drive feed gears 34 of a gearbox 35, much like a rack and pinion assembly. When the gears 34 of the gearbox 35 are driven to rotate the linear toothed bars 33, and hence the movable masks 15, are linearly moved over the exposure opening 7.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the photographic camera has a frame size setting switch 6 which can manually be turned by the user of the camera to produce a command signal indicative of a selected frame size which is one of the frame sizes described above in Table 1. When the user selects a frame size with the frame size setting switch 6, the frame size setting switch 6 applies a command signal to the system controller 8, which then supplies a control signal to achieve the desired frame size through a stepping motor driving circuit 13 to a stepping motor 14. The stepping motor 14 is energized to rotate the feed gears 34 to move the movable masks 15. At the same time that the movable masks 15 move, the hole sensor 5 produces and supplies a detected film position signal to the system controller 8, which processes the supplied film position signal to generate a control signal. The system controller 8 then supplies the control signal through an amplifier 36 to a motor 10, which rotates the film spool 9 to take-up the photographic film 1 over a predetermined length.

At this time, the length over which the photographic film 1 is driven corresponds to the distance that is determined by the frame size setting switch 6. The feeding of the photographic film 1 is described below with reference to FIGS. 9A through 9E, which show examples in which the hole pitch is 6.28 mm and the photographic film 1 is to be exposed in an HDTV-matched full-frame size of 30 mm×53.3 mm and an NTSC-matched full-frame size of 30 mm×40 mm.

FIG. 9A shows a portion of the photographic film 1 as it is exposed in successive NTSC-matched full frames. When the photographic film 1 is fed for seven pitches of the holes 19, a frame area of 30 mm×40 mm is made available for exposure through the exposure opening 7. To switch from an NTSC-matched full-frame size to an HDTV-matched full-frame size, the photographic film 1 is fed for eight pitches of the holes 19, as shown in FIG. 9B, to make a frame area of 30 mm×53.3 mm available for exposure through the exposure opening 7. To expose the photographic film 1 in successive HDTV-matched full frames, the photographic film 1 is fed for nine pitches of the holes 19, as shown in FIG. 9C, to make a frame area of 30 mm×53.3 mm available for exposure through the exposure opening 7. To switch from an HDTV-matched full-frame size to an NTSC-matched full-frame size, the photographic film 1 is fed for eight pitches of the holes 19, as shown in FIG. 9D, to make a frame area of 30 mm×40 mm available for exposure through the exposure opening 7.

To change frame sizes, the system controller 8 controls the motor 10 as follows: When switching from an NTSC-matched full-frame size to an HDTV-matched full-frame size, the photographic film 1 is first driven for seven pitches of the holes 19 and is then driven for one additional hole pitch. When switching from an HDTV-matched full-frame size to an NTSC-matched full-frame size, the photographic film 1 is first driven forward for nine pitches of the holes 19 and is then driven backward for one pitch.

When changing frame sizes, the photographic film 1 may be driven for a different distance or a different number of pitches, such as ten pitches of the holes 19, as shown in FIG. 9E. In this manner, the photographic film 1 may be easily exposed in many different frame sizes.

As shown in FIGS. 9A through 9E, the system controller of the photographic camera controls the feeding of the photographic film 1 such that the photographic film 1 will not be exposed in overlapping frames, even when different frame sizes are exposed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the photographic film 1 whose effective exposure areas have been exposed in frames 3 of different sizes. In FIG. 1, the photographic film 1 has been exposed in an HDTV-matched full-frame size, having a width of 30 mm, a length of 53.3 mm, and aspect ratio of 9:16, and in an NTSC-matched full-frame size, having a width of 30 mm, a length of 40 mm) whose aspect ratio is 3:4. The holes 19 defined along the upper marginal edge of the photographic film 1 have a pitch of 5.25 mm.

In FIG. 2, the photographic film 1 has also been exposed in an HDTV-matched full-frame size and an NTSC-matched full-frame size, however, unlike FIG. 1, the holes 19 defined in the upper marginal edge of the photographic film 1 have a pitch of 6.28 mm. In FIG. 2, one frame of an HDTV-matched full-frame size corresponds nine pitches of the holes 19, and one frame of an NTSC-matched full-frame size corresponds seven pitches of the holes 19. Since these pitches are odd-numbered, a hole 19 may be positioned in alignment with the center of the frame, so that the center of the frame can easily be detected.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the photographic camera has a shutter release button 37. When the shutter release button 37 is depressed, the system controller 8 controls the size of the exposure area and supplies a control signal to a mark recording circuit 38 for recording a central mark, a so-called effective exposure area position signal, indicative of the center of the frame 3 and also supplies a control signal to a frame number recording circuit 39 for recording a frame number. The mark recording circuit 38 energizes an LED 40 positioned at the lower film-guide pair 30, 31 for recording a central mark 40 a, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, representing the center of the exposed frame 3. The frame number recording circuit 39 energizes an LED 41 positioned at the lower film guide pair 30, 31 for recording a frame number 41 a, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, representing the frame number of the exposed frame 3. The frame number 41 a can be recorded such that it agrees with an actual frame number.

The system controller 8 also supplies a control signal to a frame size recording circuit 11 for recording a frame size signal, a so-called effective exposure area width signal, indicative of the frame size of the exposed frame 3. The frame size recording circuit 11 energizes an LED 12 positioned at the lower film guide pair 30, 31 for recording a frame size signal 12 a, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The LED 12 may be composed of four LED elements which are selectively energized to record one of frame size signals 12 a, which represent the frame size set by the frame size setting switch 6. The various frame size signals 12 a are shown by way of example in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Frame Size Frame size signal 12a HDTV-matched full-frame size |||| NTSC-matched full-frame size ||| NTSC-matched half-frame size || HDTV-matched half-frame size |

The central mark 40 a and the frame size signal 12 a supply information regarding the frame position and the frame size to an automatic printer, described hereinbelow, for controlling the automatic printer when the exposed and processed film is printed.

While frame sizes can be recognized by measuring the distances between adjacent central marks 40 a when the exposed film is printed, the processing speed of the automatic printer can be increased by using the frame size signal 12 a.

At the same time that the photographic film 1 is exposed, the system controller 8 supplies an information signal to an information recording circuit 42 for recording desired information. The information recording circuit 42 energizes an LED 43 positioned at the upper film guide pair 30, 31 for recording such information 43 a on the lower marginal edge, shown in see FIGS. 1 and 2, of the photographic film 1. The information 43 a may be information that is supplied from the camera lens and the camera itself upon exposure or could consist of the exposure date, the person who took the picture, an exposure condition, or other information that the user has entered through an input device 44, such as a keypad, on the outer surface of the rear lid of the camera body 10. The amount of information 43 a, that is, the number of characters that can be recorded, is dependent upon the frame size, and is displayed on a display panel 44 a of the input device 44. The LED 43 has a number of LED elements that are selectively energized depending on the frame size.

An analysis has been made to determine the optimum position where the information 43 a should be recorded and the optimum position where the holes 19 are defined from the standpoints of the user's convenience and a psychological effect that those positions have on the user. The results of the analysis are as follows:

(1) If marginal edges outside of the effective exposure area of the film are available as a band for recording user's information, then the information should more preferably be positioned on the lower marginal edge of the print paper, rather than on the upper marginal edge.

(2) Study of the developing and printing processes in processing laboratories indicates that in many cases information about the film itself is printed in many cases on film negatives, such that the film information will be positioned on the upper marginal edge of the print paper. It is preferable not to mix the film information and the band for recording user's information.

From the above results, it is preferable to position the film position detecting holes 19 upwardly of the effective exposure area of the film when it is exposed.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7, the photographic camera according to the present invention has a detecting means 5 a, 5 b for detecting the feeding of the photographic film 1, a film control system 8, 9, 10 for controlling the distance by which the photographic film 1 moves and for driving the photographic film 1 for a length corresponding to the width of the selected exposure opening 7, based on a detected signal from the detecting means 5 a, 5 b, and for controlling a signal recording device 8, 11, 12, 38, 40 disposed near the exposure opening 7 for recording a signal indicative of the position of the exposure opening 7 on the photographic film 1 when the photographic film 1 is exposed through the exposure opening 7.

After the photographic film 1 is exposed using the photographic camera, the processed photographic film 1 bears control signals that are recorded in a signal recording area 21, shown in see FIG. 1, thereof and that will be used when the photographic film 1 is printed. Therefore, even if the developed photographic film 1 contains frames of different frame sizes, it can be automatically printed by an automatic printer without requiring individual adjustment.

The photographic camera according to the present invention also has a film control system 8, 9, 10 for controlling the feeding or driving of the photographic film 1, and an opening control system 8, 13, 14, 15 for varying the width of the exposure opening 7 along the photographic film 1. At least when the width of the exposure opening 7 changes from a smaller dimension to a larger dimension, the film control system 8, 9, 10 drives the photographic film 1 for a length corresponding to the selected width of the exposure opening 7.

Therefore, the width of the exposure opening 7 is variable, and the take-up or driving of the photographic film 1 is controlled depending on the width of the exposure opening 7. The photographic camera can expose the photographic film 1 successively in desired frame sizes which may differ one from another without adjacent frames overlapping each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the photographic film 1 used in the photographic camera according to the present invention has a signal recording area 21 located between an effective exposure area 20 and a marginal edge thereof for recording control signals, which will be used when the photographic film 1 is processed and printed. The film 1 also has holes 19 defined in an upper marginal edge area thereof between the effective exposure area 20 and the marginal edge for detecting the distance by which the photographic film 1 has been moved.

As shown in FIG. 10, an automatic printer for automatically printing processed photographic film 1 that has been exposed using a camera as described above has a printer body that supports a paper supply reel 45 for supplying the sensitized print paper 46, a paper deck or platen 47 for supporting the print paper 46 supplied from the paper supply reel 45, a variable paper mask 48 for determining the size of a print paper segment on which an image is to be printed, a paper holder plate 49 for holding the print paper 46 down against the paper deck 47, a paper feed or drive roller 50 for driving the print paper 46, and a paper takeup reel 51 for winding the exposed print paper 46.

The printer body of the automatic printer also supports a film supply reel 52 for supplying the processed photographic film 1, a film deck or platen 53 for supporting the photographic film 1 supplied from the film supply reel 52, a negative-carrier variable slit 54, a negative holder plate 55 for positioning the negative down against the film deck 53, a film feed or drive roller 56 for driving the photographic film 1, a film takeup reel 57 for winding the exposed and processed photographic film 1, a lens 58 positioned above the negative holder plate 55, a bellows 59 supporting the lens 58 and positioned below the paper deck 47, a lamp 60 disposed below the film deck 53, a black shutter 61 positioned above the lamp 60, a filter assembly 62 composed of yellow, magenta, and cyan (Y, M, C) filters, and a diffusion box 63 disposed between the filter assembly 62 and the film deck 53.

The negative holder plate 55 supports a frame size sensor S1 for detecting the frame size signal 12 a recorded on the photographic film 1 and a frame center sensor S2 for detecting the central mark 40 a recorded on the photographic film 1 that indicates the center of a frame.

Upon detection of the central mark 40 a of the frame 3 with the frame center sensor S2, the film drive roller 56 is controlled to drive the film to align the frame center with the center of the negative-carrier variable slit 54. The variable paper mask 48 and the negative-carrier variable slit 54 are controlled based on the frame size signal 12 a that is detected by the frame size sensor S1.

If the frame size is an HDTV-matched frame size, for example, the negative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to dimensions as shown in FIG. 14A, and the variable paper mask 48 is set to dimensions as shown in FIG. 15A. If the frame size is an NTSC-matched frame size, for example, the negative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to dimensions as shown in FIG. 14B, and the variable paper mask 48 is set to dimensions as shown in FIG. 15B.

A control system for the automatic printer is shown in FIG. 11, in which the frame size sensor S1 and the frame center sensor 52 comprise photocouplers, respectively, for detecting the frame size signal 12 a and the central mark 40 a, respectively, that are recorded in the marginal edge area of the photographic film 1.

The frame center is determined based on the central mark 40 a detected by the frame center sensor S2, and the frame size of the frame 3 whose frame center is determined by a microprocessor 64 of the control system based on the frame size signal 12 a that is read by the frame size sensor S1 before the central mark 40 a is detected by the frame center sensor S2. Then, the microprocessor 64 controls a mask size drive motor M3 to actuate the variable paper mask 48 to conform with the determined frame size. At the same time, the microprocessor 64 controls a negative-carrier variable slit drive motor M2 to actuate the negative-carrier variable slit 54.

Based on the frame size signal 12A read by the frame size sensor S1, the microprocessor 64 controls a film feed motor M1 to rotate the film feel roller 56 for feeding the photographic film 1 for a predetermined length. At the same time, the microprocessor 64 controls a paper feed motor M4 to rotate the paper feed roller 50 for thereby feeding the print paper 46 for a predetermined length.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show the relationship between the photographic film 1, the frame center sensor S2, and the frame size sensor S1 in the automatic printer. When the photographic film 1 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 12A, a frame size signal 12 a is detected by the frame size sensor S1 before its frame 3 is positioned for controlling of the driving of the photographic film 1, the negative-carrier variable slit 54, and the variable paper mask 48. The frame size signal 12 a is processed by the microprocessor 64, which determines the frame size when the frame center of the frame 3 is determined.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the central mark 40A indicative of a frame center is recorded at each frame on the photographic film 1. At each frame, the frame size signal 12 a is recorded ahead of the central mark 40 a, and the frame number 41 a is recorded behind the central mark 40 a with respect to the direction in which the photographic film 1 is driven.

While the frame center sensor S2 and the frame size sensor S1 are shown as being located in substantially the same position, only the frame center sensor S2 should be positioned in alignment with the center of the negative-carrier variable slit 54 and the variable paper mask 48, and the frame size sensor S1 may be positioned on the film deck 53 at the entrance end thereof.

FIG. 13 shows a control sequence of the microprocessor 64 for controlling the driving of the developed photographic film or negative 1 and the driving of the print paper 46. The negative-carrier variable slit 54 and the variable paper mask 48 are also controlled in this control sequence. The photographic film 1 is continuously driven and taken up until the central mark 40 a is detected by the frame center sensor S2, an then the photographic film 1 is stopped when the central mark 40 a is detected by the frame center sensor S2. Until the photographic film 1 is stopped, the frame size signal 12 a is detected by the frame size sensor S1 and its number is counted.

If the frame size signal 12 a represents “3”, the width of the negative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to 38 mm, and the width of the variable paper mask 48 is set to 119 mm. Thereafter, the print paper 46 is moved, and the photographic film 1 is printed, after which the control sequence is ended. The print paper 46 is moved for a distance corresponding to printed frame sizes, a blank surrounding the printed frames, and a cutting blank between the printed frames. Usually, a hole is defined in the cutting blank when the photographic film 1 is printed, and serves as a positional signal for automatically cutting the print paper.

If the frame size signal 12 a represents “4”, the width of the negative-carrier variable slit 54 is set to 51 mm, and the width of the variable paper mask 48 is set to 158 mm. Thereafter, the print paper 46 is moved, and the photographic film 1 is printed, after which the control sequence is ended.

If the frame size signal 12 a represents “1” or “2”, the widths of the negative-carrier variable slit 54 and the variable paper mask 48 are set similarly. Thereafter, the print paper 46 is moved, and the photographic film 1 is printed, after which the control sequence is ended.

Since the frame size signal 12 a is recorded in the upper marginal edge portion of the photographic film 1, it may possibly be recognized in error as the central mark 40 a. To avoid such an error, a negative feed sensor S3, shown in FIG. 11, for detecting the distance by which the photographic film 1 is fed is associated with the film feed motor M1, and the distance by which the photographic film 1 is fed is measured by a counter 65 whose count is fed back to the microprocessor 64. Since the width of the frame size signal 12 a on the photographic film 1 can be detected by the distance by which the photographic film 1 is driven, the frame size signal 12 a can be distinguished from the central mark 40 a or the frame number 41 a.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, the automatic printer according to the present invention has a film drive control device 65, 64, M1 for detecting an effective exposure area position signal 40 a recorded in a marginal edge area between the effective exposure area 20 on the photographic film 1 and the marginal edge thereof to control the driving of the photographic film 1, and a printing opening width control device 54, 64, M2 for detecting an effective exposure area width indicating signal 12 a recorded in the marginal edge area to control the width of the printing opening along the photographic film 1.

The photographic film 1 has an effective exposure area position signal 40 a and an effective exposure area width indicating signal 12 a which are recorded in a marginal edge area between the effective exposure area 20 on the photographic film 1 and the marginal edge thereof. After the effective exposure area width indicating signal 12 a has been detected, the effective exposure area position signal 40 a is detected. The width of the film exposure opening along the photographic film 1, the width of the print paper exposure opening, and the distance by which the print paper 46 is driven are controlled based on the detected effective exposure area width indicating signal 12 a, and the distance by which the photographic film 1 is fed is controlled based on the detected effective exposure area position signal 40 a.

Therefore, since the distance by which the photographic film 1 is driven is controlled based on the effective exposure area position signal 40 a recorded in the marginal edge area of the photographic film 1 and the width of the printing opening, the width of the print paper exposure opening and the distance over which the print paper 46 is driven are controlled based on the effective exposure area width indicating signal 12 a recorded in the marginal edge area of the photographic film 1, the photographic film 1 can automatically be printed even if it has a succession of frames of different sizes.

In the illustrated photographic camera, the LED 5 a and the photodetector 5 b are disposed in confronting relationship to each other for detecting the film position detecting holes 19, however, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a photocoupler 66, which is an integral combination of an LED and a photodetector for detecting a film position, may be disposed on a film guide 30. The photocoupler 66 may be positioned anywhere on the film guide 30. The photocoupler 66 may have LEDs 41, 40, as shown in FIG. 4, for recording the frame number 41 a and the central mark 40 a at the same time that the frame is exposed.

While the hole sensor 5 comprises an LED and a photodetector in the illustrated photographic camera, the hole sensor 5 may comprise two pairs of an LED and a photodetector given the different distances by which frames of different sizes are fed.

In the illustrated automatic printer, the same photographic film contain frames of different sizes, however, the present invention is also applicable to an automatic printer for automatically printing a spliced length of photographic films with different frame sizes.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and various changes and modifications could be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A photographic camera comprising: a camera body; a user-operable shutter release; a camera lens for transmitting light from a subject external to the camera body onto a photographic film disposed inside the camera to form an image of the subject on the photographic film; a first housing disposed in the camera body for housing a cartridge containing the photographic film; a second housing disposed in the camera body for housing the photographic film drawn from the cartridge; film drive means disposed in the camera body for driving the photographic film between the first and second housings; sensor means for detecting film position detecting holes and generating a film position detecting signal based upon the film position detecting holes; an exposure device for exposing the image of the subject onto a portion of an effective exposure area of the photographic film, the portion of the effective exposure area being located opposite an exposure opening between the first and second housings; user-operable selecting means for enabling a user to select an aspect ratio information; recording means disposed in the camera body for recording on the photographic film an exposure information signal containing the aspect ratio information; and control means including a micro-computer electrically connected to the sensor means and to the film drive means for controlling a position of the effective exposure area in order to record the image of the subject based upon the film position detecting signal, wherein a leading edge of the photographic film is formed as a substantially straight line to be automatically loaded from the first housing to the second housing and to automatically position the film position detecting holes on the sensor means, and the recording means further records an exposure position control signal to indicate a printing area.
 2. The photographic camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording means further records the aspect ratio information and the exposure position control signal on a marginal area along an edge of the photographic film.
 3. The photographic camera according to claim 1, wherein the aspect ratio information indicates at least an HDTV type of aspect ratio.
 4. The photographic camera according to claim 2, wherein the control means controls the recording means to record the exposure position control signal and the aspect ratio information at a halfway point of driving the film.
 5. The photographic camera according to claim 3, wherein the film position detecting holes indicate an aspect ratio 9:16.
 6. The photographic camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording means further records a processing control signal to be used when a plurality of photographic films are spliced to be processed.
 7. The photographic camera according to claim 1, wherein said holes are substantially 0.75 mm away from a first edge of the photographic film and a second edge is devoid of sprocket holes to allow recording of the exposure information signal.
 8. A photographic film printer system comprising: a printer body; film feeding means for feeding a processed photographic film in a predetermined direction; detecting means disposed on the printer body for detecting an exposure control signal and for generating an aspect ratio information signal and a position control signal; logic circuits for determining whether an aspect ratio of a picture is of a first or a second frame format based on the aspect ratio information signal and for determining a position of an image of a subject in an exposure portion of an effective exposure area of the photographic film based on the position control signal; and printing means disposed on the printer body for varying a width of an opening of a mask used to print the image of the subject in the effective exposure area of the photographic film on photographic print paper based upon the determined frame format, and for positioning the image of the subject in the effective exposure area of the photographic film within the opening of the mask based on the determined position of the image of the subject in the effective exposure area of the photographic film, wherein a plurality of photographic films are spliced together with leading edges of the films shaped as substantially straight lines, and the exposure control signal indicates the area to be printed.
 9. The photographic printer according to claim 8, wherein the aspect ratio information and the exposure control signal are recorded on a marginal area along an edge of the photographic film.
 10. The photographic printer according to claim 8, wherein the aspect ratio information indicates at least an HDTV type aspect ratio.
 11. The photographic printer according to claim 10, wherein the film position detecting holes indicate an aspect ratio of 9:16.
 12. The photographic printer according to claim 8, wherein the exposure control signal is used to control the processing of the spliced plurality of photographic films.
 13. A photographic film for a photographic camera having a first housing, a second housing, a film feeder, a film position detector, a selector switch for enabling a user to select one of a set of aspect ratios, a control circuit connected to the selector switch operable for receiving a selection signal from the selector switch, and a recording circuit for electrically receiving an aspect signal based upon the selection signal from the control circuit and recording the aspect signal, the photographic film comprising: a film strip; an effective exposure area disposed on the film strip, the effective exposure area having a plurality of frames each of which has an aspect ratio of 16:9; first and second regions respectively formed between a first edge of the film strip and the effective exposure area and between a second edge of the film strip and the effective exposure area, the first and second regions extending along the film strip and being devoid of sprocket holes, wherein one of the regions is used by the recording circuit for recording information relating to an image of an object exposed on a frame of the effective exposure area, another of the regions has position detecting holes which are detected by the film position detector of the photographic camera, the positioning detecting holes being defined such that the film feeder of the photographic camera feeds the film strip a distance corresponding to the aspect ratio for 16:9 for each of the plurality of frames, and a leading edge of the film strip is formed as a substantially straight line to be automatically loaded from the first housing to the second housing.
 14. The photographic film according to claim 13, wherein one of the first and second regions further includes a portion used by the recording circuit of the photographic camera to record an exposure position control signal.
 15. The photographic film according to claim 14, wherein the exposure position control signal includes a signal indicating which frame is to be printed, and leading edges of films are formed to be spliced together without removing a part thereof.
 16. The photographic film according to claim 13, wherein a size of the frame is a substantially 30 mm×16.9 mm.
 17. The photographic film according to claim 13, wherein the regions are 2.5 mm wide.
 18. The photographic film according to claim 13, wherein the position detecting holes are substantially 0.75 mm away from a respective edge of the photographic film.
 19. A photographic film according to claim 13, wherein the regions are substantially 2.5 mm in a width direction of the photographic film.
 20. A photographic camera comprising: a camera body; a user-operable shutter release; a camera lens for transmitting light from a subject external to the camera body onto a photographic film disposed inside the camera to form an image of the subject on the photographic film; a first housing disposed in the camera body for housing a cartridge containing the photographic film; a second housing disposed in the camera body for housing the photographic film drawn from the cartridge; film drive means disposed in the camera body for driving the photographic film between the first and second housings; sensor means for detecting film position detecting holes and generating a film position detecting signal based upon the film position detecting holes, the holes being substantially 0.75 mm. away from an edge of the photographic film; an exposure device for exposing the image of the subject onto a portion of an effective exposure area of the photographic film, the portion of the effective exposure area being located opposition an exposure opening between the first and second housings: user-operable selecting means for enabling a user to select an aspect ratio information; recording means disposed in the camera body for recording on the photographic film an exposure information signal containing the aspect ratio information; and control means including a micro-computer electrically connected to the sensor means and to the film drive for controlling a position of the effective exposure area in order to record the image of the subject based upon the film position detecting signal, wherein a leading edge of the photographic film is formed as a substantially straight line to be automatically loaded from the first housing to the second housing and to automatically position the film position detecting holes on the sensor means, and the recording means further records an exposure position control signal to indicate a printing area.
 21. The photographic camera according to claim 20, wherein a diameter of the holes is substantially 1.0 mm, and a center of the hole is 1.25 mm away from the edge of the photographic film, and wherein the sensor means includes an optical sensor device to detect the holes.
 22. The photographic camera according to claim 20, wherein the exposure information signal further includes an exposure date information and an exposure condition information.
 23. The photographic camera according to claim 22, wherein the exposure condition information is detected from a lens device.
 24. A photographic camera comprising: a first housing for housing a photographic cartridge containing a photographic film strip; a second housing for housing the photographic film strip drawn from the cartridge; film feed means for feeding the photographic film between the first and second housings; exposure means for exposing a portion of an effective exposure area of the photographic film present in an exposure opening between the first and second housings to an image of a subject; selector switch means for enabling a user to select one of a set of aspect ratios for a print picture; sensor means for detecting a hole formed along a first outer longitudinal edge portion of the photographic film and generating a film position detecting signal based upon said detected hole, the hole being substantially 0.75 mm away from the first outer longitudinal edge portion; control means including a micro-computer electrically connected to the selector switch means for receiving a selection signal from the selector switch means and generating the aspect ratio information; and recording means responsive to the micro-computer for recording at least the generated aspect ratio information on a second outer longitudinal edge portion of the photographic film for indicating an aspect of the photographic film to be printed on photosensitive print paper, the second outer longitudinal edge portion being devoid of holes.
 25. The photographic camera according to claim 24, wherein a leading edge of the photographic film is formed as a substantially straight line to be automatically loaded from the first housing to the second housing and to automatically position the film position detecting holes on the sensor means, and the recording means further records an exposure control signal to indicate a printing area.
 26. A photographic film for a photographic camera having a first housing, a second housing, a film feeder, a film position detector, a selector switch for enabling a user to select one of a set of aspect ratios, a control circuit connected to the selector switch operable for receiving a selection signal from the selector switch, and a recording circuit for electrically receiving an aspect signal based upon the selection signal from the control circuit and recording the aspect signal, the photographic film comprising; a film strip; an effective exposure area disposed on the film strip, the effective exposure area having a plurality of frames each of which has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and each of which has a size of substantially 30 mm×16.9 mm for exposing an image of an object; and first and second regions respectively formed between a first edge of the film strip and the effective exposure area and between a second edge of the film strip and the effective exposure area, the first and second regions extending along the film strip and being devoid of sprocket holes, wherein one of the regions is used by the recording circuit for recording information relating to an image of an object exposed on a frame of the effective exposure area, another of the regions has position detecting holes which are detected by the film position detector of the photographic camera, the position detecting holes being 0.75 mm away from one of the edges of the film strip and being defined such that the film feeder of the photographic camera feeds the film strip a distance corresponding to the size of substantially 30 mm×16.9 mm for each of the plurality of frames.
 27. The photographic film according to claim 26, wherein a leading edge of said photographic film is formed as a substantially straight line to be automatically loaded from the first housing to the second housing and to automatically position the film position detecting holes on the film position detector.
 28. The photographic film according to claim 26, wherein one of the first and second regions further includes a portion used by the recording circuit of the photographic camera to record a control signal.
 29. A photographic film according to claim 26, wherein one of the first and second regions further includes a predetermined position for recording aspect information, and another one of the first and second regions is used as a recording area where film information about the photographic film strip is optically recorded.
 30. A cartridge for a photographic camera having first and second housings, film feed means for feeding photographic film between the first and second housings, film position detecting means for detecting a film position, control means including a microcomputer electrically connected to a selector switch operable by a user for generating an aspect information signal based upon the operation of the selector switch, and recording means responsive to the microcomputer for recording an aspect information signal, the cartridge comprising: a photographic film strip having an exposure area used by the camera to expose an image of an object thereon and first and second spaces provided along the photographic film strip between the exposure area and edges of the photographic film strip, the spaces being devoid of sprocket holes, the exposure area for exposing a plurality of frames each having an aspect ratio of 16:9 corresponding to an HDTV size for exposing an image of an object, one of the spaces being used by the recording means for recording information relating to the image of the object exposed in a frame of the effective exposure area, and another of the spaces has positioning detecting holes which are detected by the film position detecting means of the photographic camera, the holes being 0.75 mm away from the edge of the photographic film strip and being defined such that the film feed means of the photographic camera feeds the film strip a distance corresponding to an HDTV size of each of the plurality of frames; and a housing for containing the photographic film strip.
 31. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein one of the first and second spaces of the photographic film strip includes a region used by the recording means to record the aspect information signal.
 32. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein one of the first and second spaces further includes a predetermined position for recording aspect information, and another one of the first and second places is used as a recording area where film information about the photographic film strip is optically recorded.
 33. The cartridge according to claim 30, wherein a leading edge of the photographic film is formed as a substantially straight line to be automatically loaded from the first housing to the second housing and to automatically position the film position detecting holes on the film position detecting means. 